You can now bring your small pet on New England Amtrak trips
Cats and dogs under 20 pounds can now join you aboard.
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Effective February 16, Amtrak announced that small pets—weighing 20 pounds or less—will be allowed aboard most long distance trains. For a $25 fee, cat or dog owners can reserve a spot on Coach cars for their pet on a first-come, first-serve basis. Passengers are only allowed to bring one pet with them and only five pets total are permitted per train.
According to Chelsea Kopta, of Amtrak Government Affairs and Corporate Communications, a pilot program was launched in October which allowed customers to bring their small pets onboard Northeast Regional and Downeaster trains which service Boston to Norfolk and Brunswick to Boston, respectively. These same routes will now officially permit pets in addition to the shuttle between Springfield and New Haven. As of February 20, Acela is also beginning a pilot program allowing pets to travel with their owners on weekends only and for no longer than seven hours at a time.
“If [an allergic] reaction should occur while onboard,’’ said Kopta, “passengers should follow their doctor’s treatment instructions and ask a crew member for assistance in finding suitable seating in another coach car.’’
For anyone concerned that they’ll be fighting over the window seat with a Shih Tzu, rest assured that owners must keep their pets in a carrier throughout the duration of the trip.
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